Media release

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) congratulates the recipients of this year’s National Search and Rescue Council’s Australian Search and Rescue (NATSAR) Awards for 2021-22.

The annual awards were presented by the NATSAR Council tonight in Melbourne in recognition of outstanding contributions to search and rescue (SAR) within the Australian region. 

AMSA Chief Executive Officer Mick Kinley said it was an honour to recognise and applaud the actions of the recipients of the awards.  

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has assisted Western Australian Police (WA Police) in the search for a missing 80-year-old man on a property in Lake Barlee, near Sandstone, in remote mid-west Western Australia.

The man left his vehicle on the property on Friday afternoon (19 August) and failed to return home by the expected time.

A prestigious international award was presented today at Byron Bay’s iconic Cape Byron Lighthouse after the tower was named the 2021 Heritage Lighthouse of the Year by the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA). 

The unique glass trophy, hand-crafted in the Republic of Korea, was presented by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), which operates the lighthouse, to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), which manages the lightstation and museum. 

The Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) are welcoming artwork submissions from Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal artists to feature on a rescue aircraft.

The selected artwork will be reproduced on a Challenger 604 rescue aircraft, which is part of the AMSA search and rescue fleet. In addition to the highly visible orange and black “AMSA Rescue” branding, the selected artwork will become a prominent feature of the aircraft.

The owner of a passenger vessel which had numerous safety issues, who ignored a prohibition notice and continued to operate, was convicted in Gosford Local Court on 14 December 2021. 

The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions laid charges against the owner of the Lady Kendall II, on behalf of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), for breach of a prohibition notice under the Maritime Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law Act 2012. 

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is a key part of Australia’s search and rescue system, built upon strong collaborative relationships and formal arrangements. This construct allows us to provide an effective search and rescue service to anyone in distress, no matter where they are in the Australian search and rescue region.

We are seeking feedback on draft heritage management plans for two iconic Lighthouses, located to Tasmania’s north.   

Cape Wickham and Mersey Bluff Lighthouses have draft heritage management plans open for members of the public to view and have their say. 

The plans set out the policies and management guidelines to ensure that the Commonwealth heritage values of the lighthouses are recognised, maintained, and preserved for future generations. 

Australia has today been successfully re-elected to category b of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council for the 2022-23 biennium.

The IMO is a specialised United Nations agency responsible for the safety, efficiency and security of international shipping and the prevention of pollution by ships. The IMO Council is responsible for supervising the work of the Organization. Category b represents countries with the largest interest in international seaborne trade and is made up of only 10 IMO Member States.

The tragic disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 in 2014 highlighted the need to improve the global air navigation system, especially over remote and ocean areas, including near Australia. 

As a result, the new Global Aeronautical Distress and Safety System (GADSS) has been developed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), member States and the aviation industry. 

Nominations are now open for the Australian Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) award which recognises the outstanding contribution by a VTS during 2021.